'Tendulkar Opus' reveals the journey of "The God" from Unmanageable kid to World's Highest Run getter in all forms of the game

Krish Sachinist Krish - 06/04/2017

Sign in to like the article

Sachin Tendulkar said that during his childhood, he was extreamly naughty and was very difficult to handle and his only dream was to wear the Indian Cap.'Tendulkar Opus' book reveals the journey of "The God" from unmanageable kid to World's Highest Run getter in all forms of the game.

My childhood dreams have come true

"Cricket is something very very special to me.It has never been about owning this or that car and the other things that come withthis life.My parents taught me that it is important to live every day of your life with grace and honour.An obsession with moneyor wordly matters was always thumbed down.My only dream was to wear the Indian cap and the Indian colors,In that respect my childhood dreams have come true" said Sachin.

I never wanted to go home

Sachin says he was extremely naughty and it was very very difficult for parents to handle him,"I would climb trees around the apartment complex and polish off all the guavas and mangoes.The fruit trees were strictly off limits,but I used to time it to perfection by waiting until nobody was around,normaly in the evening when everyone was inside watching television.I had a nanny who used to run after me virtually 24hrs a day, because I never wanted to go home" says little master.

A `Mac' fan

``My big-time hero was John McEnroe. I just lovedthat guy. All my friends and family would support Bjorn Borg. I was the only one supporting John McEnroe everyone used tocall me `Mac' because I styled myself on him.I made my father buy me the same headbands and sweatbands and even grew my hair long.You wouldn't believe the pictures of me from that time" said the right-hand batsman.

Guiding Light

In an interview with The Sunday Times Magazine , to speak in detail about his childhood in a book,Tendulkar's Opus, Sachin Said "It started when I was seven and received my first cricket bat. I remember it so clearly. My big sister gave it to me after returning from a trip to Kashmir, which is known for itshigh-quality willows. It wasn't the best bat, but it was like a piece of gold to me. I used to imagine myself batting for India, hitting fours and sixes, the people cheering. Batting came naturally to me, probably because of my physique. There were bigger guys who chose to bowl, and there were smaller guys like me who had no option but to bat."

Sachin Said, he settled down when he started playing a lot of cricket in his early teens ``all my calories were being burnt on the cricket pitch and my energy was being focused.``I have my brother Ajit to thank for that he guided me into the game. He used to watch me play downstairs with my friends, without me realising. He figured out that I could bat by watching my swing, the way I connected with the ball and my consistency.``He's almost 10 years older than me and had played at a decent level himself. He told me that professional cricket could be a future for me and convinced my father to let me change schools, to help me play more,''

He said.``My father, who died in 1999, was never a cricket fan, not at all. He was a writer and a poet: he taught Marathi, my mother tongue, at the local university. But he understood exactly how to get the best out of me. He always encouraged me and told my mother that hehad full faith in me."It was probably reverse psychology, but as I got older I felt like I could not misuse that trust. He warned me against taking short cuts and told me to just keep playing, despite the ups-and-downs. When it came to choosing between cricket and going to university, he said: 'You can play cricket, I know that is your first love, so go for it'.''

Tendulkar also thanked his parents for instilling in him the values which ensured that he remained grounded even after he achieved so much success and fame. "It has never been about owning this or that car andthe other things that come with this life. My parents taught me that it is important to live every day of your life with grace and honour. An obsession with money or worldly matterswas always thumbed down. My only dream was to wear the Indian cap and the Indian colours. In that respect, my childhood dreams have come true."

Tendulkar said he was now trying to find the balance between spending time with his family and playing a sport he still has plenty of passion for. "I need to strike the right balance between cricket and family. I try to follow my father's lead and give my kids the freedom that I had in my family. Having children brings back all my old childhood memories, wonderful years. I still dream -- without dreams, life is flat, you stagnate. I don't go to the temple every morning, but I do pray. I thank God for everything He has given me, because life has been good to me."